Pokémon Mega Evolution versus Z-Moves

[Midoriya]

So, we all know this topic was bound to come up at one point or another.

With the introduction of Gen 6, Fairy types were introduced, and so were mega evolutions, perhaps in an attempt to counter dragon types and overpowered Pok?mon.

Then in Gen 7, Z-Moves were introduced to counter Mega Evolution. And it works. An example is the fact that in Pok?mon Showdown a single Splintered Stormshards by a Lycanroc Dusk Form has the ability to take out a Mega Charizard X in one hit (provided the Charizard does not use protect or some other defensive move or switch).

So the question now is, which do you prefer more? Mega Evolution, or Z-Moves? I have friends who are on both sides, so I'm not really sure which one I prefer. A poll will be added so you guys can vote on it. I also apologize if this topic has been brought up already, but I do not see it on the first page.

 

[MapleSilver]

I prefer mega evolution.

Also, is that battle official? If so, that means Ash's Pikachu isn't holding a light ball. It must be more powerful than we thought.

 

[Midoriya]

I prefer mega evolution.

Also, is that battle official? If so, that means Ash's Pikachu isn't holding a light ball. It must be more powerful than we thought.

I'm not sure if it was official or not, but yeah, I prefer mega evolution more as well. It just feels more special when you have a partner that can mega evolve, and it may be different from your opponents'. I think it is even more special when you both have the same Pok?mon that can mega evolve in a match, and you end up winning.

 

[Sakura625]

Z-moves, because I like having my whole party being able to use them ( ^▽^)

And also some the mega evolution pokedex entries make me feel bad for my pokemon

Spoiler: Pokedex Entries

Spoiler: Mega Gengar

S: Gengar's relationships are warped. It has no interest in opponents unless it perceives them as prey.
US: It tries to take the lives of anyone and everyone. It will even try to curse the Trainer who is its master!

Spoiler: Mega Kangaskhan

M: Thanks to Mega Evolution, its child grows. But as the child is good only at fighting and nothing else, its mother feels uneasy about its future.
UM: The explosive energy the child is bathed in causes temporary growth. The mother is beside herself with worry about it.

Spoiler: Mega Aerodactyl

M: When it Mega Evolves, it becomes more vicious than ever before. Some say that's because its excess of power is causing it pain.
US: It will attack anything that moves. Mega Evolution is a burden on its body, so it?s incredibly irritated.

Spoiler: Mega Scizor

S: The excess energy that bathes this Pok?mon keeps it in constant danger of overflow. It can't sustain a battle over long periods of time.
M: Due to the effects of Mega Evolution, its pincers have taken on a more diabolical form, ripping anything they pinch to shreds.
US: It stores the excess energy from Mega Evolution, so after a long time passes, its body starts to melt.
UM: It's better at beating things than grasping them. When it battles for a long time, the weight of its pincers becomes too much to bear.

Spoiler: Mega Tyranitar

US: Due to the colossal power poured into it, this Pok?mon?s back split right open. Its destructive instincts are the only thing keeping it moving
UM: The effects of Mega Evolution make it more ferocious than ever. It's unclear whether it can even hear its Trainer's orders.

Spoiler: Mega Sharpedo

M: As a consequence of Mega Evolution, its combative instincts exploded. The yellow marks it bears are scars from a long history of battles.
US: The yellow patterns it bears are old scars. The energy from Mega Evolution runs through them, causing it sharp pain and suffering.

Spoiler: Mega Absol

US: Normally, it dislikes fighting, so it really hates changing to this form for battles.

Spoiler: Mega Metagross

M: Mega Evolution stimulated its brain. It emerged as a ruthless Pok?mon that will clutch at any means of ensuring its victories.
US: Its intellect surpasses its previous level, resulting in battles so cruel, they?ll make you want to cover your eyes.
UM: When it knows it can't win, it digs the claws on its legs into its opponent and starts the countdown to a big explosion.

Spoiler: Mega Lucario

M: It readies itself to face its enemies by focusing its mental energies. Its fighting style can be summed up in a single word: heartless.
US: Its aura has expanded due to Mega Evolution. Governed only by its combative instincts, it strikes enemies without mercy.
UM: Bathed in explosive energy, its combative instincts have awakened. For its enemies, it has no mercy whatsoever.

 

[Midoriya]

Z-moves, because I like having my whole party being able to use them ( ^▽^)

And also some the mega evolution pokedex entries make me feel bad for my pokemon

Spoiler: Pokedex Entries

Spoiler: Mega Gengar

S: Gengar's relationships are warped. It has no interest in opponents unless it perceives them as prey.
US: It tries to take the lives of anyone and everyone. It will even try to curse the Trainer who is its master!

Spoiler: Mega Kangaskhan

M: Thanks to Mega Evolution, its child grows. But as the child is good only at fighting and nothing else, its mother feels uneasy about its future.
UM: The explosive energy the child is bathed in causes temporary growth. The mother is beside herself with worry about it.

Spoiler: Mega Aerodactyl

M: When it Mega Evolves, it becomes more vicious than ever before. Some say that's because its excess of power is causing it pain.
US: It will attack anything that moves. Mega Evolution is a burden on its body, so it’s incredibly irritated.

Spoiler: Mega Scizor

S: The excess energy that bathes this Pok?mon keeps it in constant danger of overflow. It can't sustain a battle over long periods of time.
M: Due to the effects of Mega Evolution, its pincers have taken on a more diabolical form, ripping anything they pinch to shreds.
US: It stores the excess energy from Mega Evolution, so after a long time passes, its body starts to melt.
UM: It's better at beating things than grasping them. When it battles for a long time, the weight of its pincers becomes too much to bear.

Spoiler: Mega Tyranitar

US: Due to the colossal power poured into it, this Pok?mon’s back split right open. Its destructive instincts are the only thing keeping it moving
UM: The effects of Mega Evolution make it more ferocious than ever. It's unclear whether it can even hear its Trainer's orders.

Spoiler: Mega Sharpedo

M: As a consequence of Mega Evolution, its combative instincts exploded. The yellow marks it bears are scars from a long history of battles.
US: The yellow patterns it bears are old scars. The energy from Mega Evolution runs through them, causing it sharp pain and suffering.

Spoiler: Mega Absol

US: Normally, it dislikes fighting, so it really hates changing to this form for battles.

Spoiler: Mega Metagross

M: Mega Evolution stimulated its brain. It emerged as a ruthless Pok?mon that will clutch at any means of ensuring its victories.
US: Its intellect surpasses its previous level, resulting in battles so cruel, they’ll make you want to cover your eyes.
UM: When it knows it can't win, it digs the claws on its legs into its opponent and starts the countdown to a big explosion.

Spoiler: Mega Lucario

M: It readies itself to face its enemies by focusing its mental energies. Its fighting style can be summed up in a single word: heartless.
US: Its aura has expanded due to Mega Evolution. Governed only by its combative instincts, it strikes enemies without mercy.
UM: Bathed in explosive energy, its combative instincts have awakened. For its enemies, it has no mercy whatsoever.

Wow, uh.... those Pokedex entries are kind of messed up... 0_o

 

[amazonevan19]

I like the utility and strategy of z-moves better than mega evolutions, in terms of actual battle mechanics. Megas last the whole battle (or over multiple turns) and can be rather ridiculously overpowered (Mega kanga pre-nerf anyone?), while a z-move is a one-time use thing that can help any mon become powerful. Status z-moves can also lead to really interesting new strategies that weren't possible before.

In terms of design, though, I think megas are better cuz I like having a more powerful, epic-looking super form to check out in battle.

But yeah. I think z-moves are better battle-wise but megas are more intriguing for lore.

 

[Midoriya]

I like the utility and strategy of z-moves better than mega evolutions, in terms of actual battle mechanics. Megas last the whole battle (or over multiple turns) and can be rather ridiculously overpowered (Mega kanga pre-nerf anyone?), while a z-move is a one-time use thing that can help any mon become powerful. Status z-moves can also lead to really interesting new strategies that weren't possible before.

In terms of design, though, I think megas are better cuz I like having a more powerful, epic-looking super form to check out in battle.

But yeah. I think z-moves are better battle-wise but megas are more intriguing for lore.

Yeah, I definitely agree with that. I can see why z-moves are more versatile depending on the Pok?mon using them, but the story and background behind mega evolutions is always interesting to read about.

 

[MapleSilver]

I'm not sure if it was official or not, but yeah, I prefer mega evolution more as well. It just feels more special when you have a partner that can mega evolve, and it may be different from your opponents'. I think it is even more special when you both have the same Pok?mon that can mega evolve in a match, and you end up winning.

Just looked on Bulbapedia, and it is indeed official.

 

[Lancelot]

Mega evolutions, solely for the fact that I enjoy seeing new designs when a new game is announced and zmoves do nothing for me

 

[Jake]

Mega Evolution. They added new life to older Pokemon and made some of the more useless ones become a lot better in battle, and even got banned in some cases. Z-moves are alright in a sense that every Pokemon can use them and each Pokemon can use a variety of them whereas Mega Evolution is only reserved for a select few Pokemon, but in Gen VI I found myself using Mega Evolution in every battle, Gen VIII I think I found myself using a Z-move maybe once or twice.

 

[Gashlycrumb]

Z-moves, because they are more versatile, and I like the idea of essentially having a 5th move now. I wasn't fond of mega evolutions because I feel like a lot of Pokemon who got them were already powerful(like Mewtwo and Lucario) and the ones who weren't, I'd have preferred them to have just had regular evolutions(like Mawile and Sableye).

Plus it irritated me that my favorite Pokemon(Banette) got a mega, but it's not that much better in battle than it's normal form :c

I'm not sure why they've decided to make Mega Evolution sound so disturbing now all of a sudden with these Sun and Moon pokedex entries, though. It just makes people feel bad for using Megas, and why would you demonize one of your most popular game mechanics?

 

[Buttonsy]

I prefer the Z-Moves! Mega Evolution is cool, but I find it more confusing to gather up everything I need to actually go through with it, plus something doesn't sit super well with me with watching my Pokemon evolve and then just... un-evolve. And I also really like the awesome animations that go with Z-Moves!

 

[Midoriya]

I prefer the Z-Moves! Mega Evolution is cool, but I find it more confusing to gather up everything I need to actually go through with it, plus something doesn't sit super well with me with watching my Pokemon evolve and then just... un-evolve. And I also really like the awesome animations that go with Z-Moves!

Yeah, I have to admit that it kind of feels strange when they just go back to normal afterwards. Especially considering the fact that some Pok?mon that actually needed an evolution like that never got one.

 

[MapleSilver]

I actually sort of like how they change back. I like how my Absol can grow wings, but I'm not sure I'd want him to look like that all the time.

 

[Midoriya]

I actually sort of like how they change back. I like how my Absol can grow wings, but I'm not sure I'd want him to look like that all the time.

I can see both sides having a good argument for that. Honestly, it just depends on the Pok?mon mega evolving.

For example, obviously a bunch of people wanted Dunsparce to receive one, but if it became Dragon/Normal like some fanmade ones I've seen, I would probably not want it to stay in that form all the time. Lol...

 

[Paperboy012305]

Mega Evolution by a landslide.

Z-Moves aren't very competitive wise.

 

[Midoriya]

Mega Evolution by a landslide.

Z-Moves aren't very competitive wise.

There are still some combinations you can use with them.... and I noticed a lot of users in Pok?mon Showdown are not expecting them to be used, which usually results in a KO of one of their mons....